Chapter 26: Chapter 136 - 140:Fifth on the Qiankun Ranking. Introduction. Ren Qianqian Transcends Borders. Has Shen Jiang Fu Lost Him?. A Single Move to Subdue the World's Masters.
Chapter 136: Fifth on the Qiankun Ranking
Little White Fox licked the edge of Li Hao's palm and looked at him pitifully.
Li Hao smiled. Little White Fox definitely couldn't go to the Martial Temple; otherwise, she would be executed as soon as she stepped in.
The path of soul continuation for demons and monsters was similar to that of humans.
Those with a heritage would have their ancestor demons and monsters continue their souls.
Those without heritage could only seek to apprentice under other powerful demons, thus receiving their heritage.
Thus, the demons and monsters also had their own factions and circles.
If they were still living in that divine general's mansion, Li Hao could have helped Little White Fox by sending her to Qingqiu Mountain, where the fox clan resided.
Qingqiu Mountain was also one of the forces affiliated with the Li family.
The old Taoist priest from Qingqiu Mountain who measured Li Hao's bones was actually a powerful fox demon.
However, a great battle had erupted on Qingqiu Mountain a thousand years ago, during which the fox monarch perished. In the years since, no demon king of the Four Establishments realm had been born, so they could only submit and affiliate themselves with the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.
"Hang in there a little longer. When I come back, I'll look for any wild graves of demon kings beyond the border."
Li Hao stroked Little White Fox and said, "If it really doesn't work out, give me some time. In the future, I'll kill a demon king for you to continue your soul."
The Soul Continuation realm was crucial; it gave one the power to fight beyond their own realm. The Heaven and Earth Soul Continuation technique allowed one to condense their soul 360 times, far surpassing peers in the same realm by five to tenfold.
Coupled with enhancements from subsequent realms, the cumulative effect resulted in this formidable power.
Upon hearing Li Hao's words, Little White Fox nodded obediently, revealing a fox-like smile.
Li Hao borrowed a pouch of silver from Song Qiumei and set off with Ren Qianqian.
Little White Fox stayed in the camp, left in Song Qiumei's care.
Ren Qianqian helped Li Hao carry his sword, while Li Hao carried Ren Qianqian...
However, this "carrying" was done using his object-manipulating ability, with the two of them flying out of the camp one in front of the other.
Old Feng's figure followed in the distance, treading silently through the wind and snow.
Li He still chose to secretly follow behind Li Hao, continuing his duty of protection.
Even though he now knew that this young master's combat power was in no way inferior to his own, military orders were absolute.
...
...
Great Yue City was located in the northwestern central region of Liangzhou.
This place was easily accessible from all directions, with no mountains or forests outside the city, just a vast plain. It served as the northwestern axis of Liangzhou.
Countless escort teams and caravans arrived here every month.
Winter snow covered the earth, and the world was monochromatic, but the wheels of the carriages rolling across the land left deep, dark tear-like tracks.
On the road outside the city, carriages rushed in from all four directions, one after another, traveling along the broad official road and entering that majestic city.
"Miss, we're approaching Great Yue City."
In a simple and unadorned carriage, a maidservant dressed in plain clothes but wearing soft armor underneath addressed the young girl beside her.
The girl, with a sword at her waist and dressed in white like the snowy landscape outside, lifted the carriage curtain and gazed at the hundred-zhang-high city wall, which loomed like a vast, oppressive mountain at the end of her vision.
"The grandeur of Great Yue City is not inferior to Qingzhou City," the girl murmured.
She was Li Wushuang, who had come to Liangzhou with her father.
Not long after arriving at the military camp, she had heard about the Grand Master Assembly being hosted by the Tianji Mountain sect. Without delay, she had disguised herself, brought along two female attendants arranged by her father, Li Xuanli, and set out on the journey overnight.
"This is the residence of one of the seven great aristocratic families of Liangzhou and the third richest person in Liangzhou, so it's quite impressive," the maidservant explained.
Li Wushuang nodded slightly but didn't pay it much mind.
Any aristocratic family or influential powerhouse would pale in comparison to the illustrious and noble Divine General's Manor.
Her gaze swept over the area around the official road, taking in the white plain and the distant mountains that could only be seen at the horizon, and she murmured, "If there were to be a battle with demons and monsters here, a large number of troops could be assembled. It's also a land with few natural barriers, making it difficult for demons and monsters to hide their traces."
The maidservant smiled slightly upon hearing this. Indeed, the daughter of a general had a different perspective from that of an ordinary aristocratic young lady.
"It is said that attending this event will lay a foundation for my future breakthrough to the Heaven and Man realm and will be beneficial for breaking through to the fifteen-li realm. There's even a chance to advance further on the Qiankun Ranking!" Li Wushuang's eyes sparkled.
The Qiankun Ranking was divided into two lists: the Kun Phoenix Ranking, for which one had to be under 18 years old to be eligible, and the Qianlong Ranking, for which the age limit was 22.
The Qiankun Ranking was mainly created for young cultivators.
The pride of the aristocratic families mostly competed for the Kun Phoenix Ranking, while those on the Qianlong Ranking were mostly disciples of the divine general's mansions or top powers, such as disciples of the Qiandao Palace, disciples of Wuliang Mountain, and direct disciples of other first-rate sects.
To be ranked on the Qiankun Ranking meant that one was among the most outstanding young elites of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty.
The only condition for being ranked was the assessment of one's cultivation realm and actual combat achievements!
Therefore, many young scions of aristocratic families ventured into the jianghu, performing heroic and righteous deeds, slaying demons and eliminating evil, and striving to become famous, all in the hope of attracting attention and being included on the Qiankun Ranking.
Once ranked, one would receive invitations from various powers and gain assistance in the form of resources, ensuring a smooth path in cultivation without worries about the lack of cultivation techniques, resources, or weapons. One would only need to focus on cultivating.
Li Wushuang was currently ranked outside the top 30 on the Qianlong Ranking.
Ahead of her, up to the 28th rank, were all geniuses of the fifteen-li realm.
They came from various powers, some being direct disciples of top experts like Sword Saints and Blade Saints.
Li Wushuang recognized the names of quite a few of them, and some she was even familiar with. For example, one of the two God-Traveling realm cultivators ranked ahead of her, at 28th place, was Li Hao's fiancee, Bian Ruxue.
Both were in the God-Traveling realm, but Bian Ruxue was ranked slightly higher.
The reason for her ranking was that three months ago, she had descended from the Sword Sect, entered the world, destroyed an extinct river, and with a single sword strike, slain two God-Traveling realm demons and monsters who had crossed realms. Her remarkable achievements had earned her this spot.
"Young Master, Great Yue City lies ahead," a grey-robed elder said respectfully.
The elder had a coiling dragon horn on his head and grey scales on his neck, his face long and narrow with a hint of coldness.
"It seems like a rather tasty morsel," the purple-gold robed young man said, his eyes gleaming with a purple hue as he stared intently. He licked his lips and added, "Once we take this city, we can coordinate with Father from within. With a strike from the northwest, along with those fellows, the defending army of Liangzhou won't even have time to react!"
The grey-robed elder smiled and said, "I heard that they're holding a grand gathering here, with Grandmasters from various states in attendance. They will indeed be a sumptuous feast for you, Young Master, to enjoy as you please."
"These reptiles, with their ability to reach the Heaven and Man realm after merely a few decades of cultivation, and their rapid reproduction, truly disgust me!" The purple-gold robed young man spoke coldly, his face twisted with a cruel expression.
The others by his side smiled silently, offering no comment.
"Let's go and play in the city first. The main army can stand by and wait for our signal. Once we break their city formation, we'll take it all at once and minimize casualties," the young man in purple-gold commanded.
The coiling dragon horn on the elder's head retracted into his hair, and the gray scales on his neck also disappeared, making him appear like a regular elder.
"How troublesome," the purple-gold-robed youth frowned, looking displeased.
"The purple-gold robe is exclusively worn by the royal family of the human race; it's too eye-catching," the gray-robed elder said respectfully.
"Hmph, those damn reptiles!" The purple-gold-robed youth scowled, but the color of his robe changed slightly, turning into a plain yellow robe, and the purple in his eyes faded away, becoming black.
"Let's go."
"Young Master, here's your token."
The gray-robed elder handed over a token with a few bloodstains on it.
...
...
Two figures flew towards Great Yue City and landed on the official road outside the city. They then walked slowly towards the city, and it was none other than Li Hao and Ren Qianqian.
Li Hao casually plucked a blade of grass from the roadside and fiddled with it as he walked, occasionally hopping over the pits and puddles of melted snow left by the carriage wheels. He skillfully avoided the muddy water to keep his boots clean.
Ren Qianqian, carrying her sword, followed closely, and from time to time, they would leap over the muddy puddles together. Finally, they arrived at the city gate.
After paying the entrance fee, they entered the city and walked on the cobblestone path.
"There are indeed quite a few warriors here," Li Hao observed as he looked around. Along the way, he sensed the presence of many warriors, most of them in the God-Traveling realm, and a small number in the Soul Continuation realm. They had probably come to witness the excitement of the Grand Master Assembly.
The streets were bustling, and the shops and restaurants were packed with people, making the city very prosperous.
As they walked, Li Hao overheard various conversations and gossip. Some discussed the Grand Master Assembly, while others talked about the personal lives of certain Grand Masters. To his surprise, Li Hao even heard his own name being mentioned.
"Have you heard? The fifth-ranked on the Qiankun Ranking, the youngest Grand Master in history!"
"My father told me that over a decade ago, someone from the Li family broke that record. I never expected someone from the same family to surpass it again."
"Out of the Five Great Divine Generals' Mansions, the Li family should be the top, right?"
"Shh, keep your voice down. Let me tell you a secret. My friend told me that among the Five Great Divine Generals' Mansions, the Wang family, which has the lowest profile, is actually the most formidable..."
...
The topic gradually drifted away from the original subject.
Li Hao was quite surprised by the mention of the Qiankun Ranking, also known as the Qianlong Ranking and the Kun Phoenix Ranking. It was a monthly ranking compiled by the Tianji Tower, which held great influence in the martial world.
The host of the Grand Master Assembly, the sect master of Tianji Mountain, was one of the leaders of the Tianji Tower.
It was said that the Tianji Tower knew everything that happened in the world, and most of the intriguing stories that Li Hao had read in the Listen to the Rain Tower were penned by the Tianji Tower. They even described in detail how a Grand Master took revenge and wiped out an entire family.
There were also records of certain Grand Masters' romantic affairs with beautiful women, which were included in the catalog of their indulgent lifestyles.
However, according to what Li Hao had heard from Second Uncle, the Tianji Tower's extensive knowledge was not merely based on fabrication. In fact, it had the backing of the royal family.
The Tianji Tower held immense prestige in the martial world, and this was one of the ways the Great Yu Dynasty exerted its influence over the martial world.
This showed just how formidable the power held by the Great Yu Dynasty was.
"Is it because of that battle...?" Li Hao curled his lips, never expecting that he would enter the Qiankun Ranking because of that fight.
However, he didn't pay much attention to the ranking.
Most people strived for a spot on the ranking for fame and fortune, as fame brought opportunities.
There were also a small number of pure-hearted individuals who sought only fame, wanting to be recognized and remembered by the world, even after their deaths.
But Li Hao had no interest in either of those things.
He just wanted to live a long and carefree life, wandering the world as an ordinary man.
Perhaps the most precious thing in life was the freedom to live as one pleased.
"Come, I'll take you to the Martial Temple for soul continuation," Li Hao said to Ren Qianqian.
Ren Qianqian's eyes lit up, and she immediately nodded in agreement.
Li Hao casually asked a passerby and learned that there were three Martial Temples in Great Yue City, with the largest one located on Cheng Huang Street in the center of the city.
Without hesitation, Li Hao took Ren Qianqian to that Martial Temple.
Along the way, they encountered many warriors from various states, most of them traveling in small groups led by an elder.
Cheng Huang Street was bustling with activity, and there was also a Buddhist temple there, which attracted many people to burn incense and worship.
This temple was one of the many temples under the Wuliang Mountain sect's jurisdiction and was thus part of their influence.
Li Hao glanced at it but had no intention of worshipping. He led Ren Qianqian straight to the Martial Temple in the center of the street.
There was an altar for incense burning outside the Martial Temple, but surprisingly, there were fewer people worshipping here than at the Buddhist temple.
Li Hao frowned slightly, and together with Ren Qianqian, he went up to the altar, bought some incense, and paid his respects to the heroic souls within the temple.
After they finished paying their respects, Li Hao and Ren Qianqian approached the temple keeper and presented her identity and proof of her Soul Continuation realm. The keeper then recorded her information in a book and allowed her to enter the temple.
The heroic souls within the temple were in a semi-sleep state, and whether or not they could be moved depended on one's abilities.
With nothing else to do, Li Hao wandered around the temple and noticed two temple keepers playing chess in an open space behind the temple. He squatted down and watched their game.
What terrible chess players.
After a few moves, Li Hao lost interest and shook his head, turning away indifferently.
The two young temple keepers just smiled at each other, attributing Li Hao's behavior to youthful impatience and a lack of understanding of the game.
Chapter 137: Introduction
"He is, after all, still a young man."
"While others chase fame and fortune, we remain elegant and above it all."
The two young temple attendants chuckled softly in agreement.
Having already walked away, Li Hao turned back upon hearing their words. He picked up some go stones from the white stone bowl and placed them on five spots on the go board before humming lightly and striding away.
"You bold young man, how dare you..."
The young temple attendant playing white glared angrily, about to shout after the boy, but Li Hao was already too far away. He retracted his gaze irritably and was about to reset the disturbed stones when he noticed his friend staring blankly at the board.
He was puzzled, but when he looked down, he realized that his previously disadvantaged position had been reversed. The placement of the five stones had opened up a new territory for him.
Moreover, removing a single stone would result in a scattered formation that was difficult to detect.
"This..."
...
After wandering around the area, Li Hao felt slightly bored. Noticing that Ren Qianqian's soul succession ritual wasn't over yet, he immediately found the old temple attendant and asked him to deliver a message to the young girl who had just gone in. He wanted her to wait for him here after she was done and not to wander off.
He handed over two silver coins, which the old temple attendant gladly accepted with a smile, agreeing to pass on the message.
Li Hao then swaggered out of the Martial Temple, his sleeves fluttering in the breeze. He made his way into the city and located a bustling restaurant, where he inquired about the renowned Master Bai Chunhai.
The restaurant was packed with guests, creating a lively atmosphere. Hanging from the spiral staircase in the center of the building was a candle, its flame flickering gently. About half a meter above the candle, a finely crafted dagger adorned with amber and jade hung from the rope.
Downstairs, a crowd had gathered, egging someone on.
Li Hao glanced over, realizing that the restaurant was holding an event amidst the festivities. Anyone who could retrieve the dagger without causing the candle to flicker would be given the dagger as a gift.
Just looking at the gems on the dagger, one could tell it was worth a small fortune, which explained the attraction it held for so many people.
Li Hao wasn't particularly interested in the dagger. He climbed another staircase to the upper floor and found a spot by the railing to sit down.
He surveyed his surroundings, filtering out the various noises and selectively listening to the whispers around him.
With his keen hearing, he could even pick up conversations from nearby teahouses and pedestrians on the street outside the restaurant.
He could also clearly hear some people's hushed conversations, such as the one going on behind him and downstairs, where several women were whispering: "That boy by the railing is so handsome..."
Li Hao's mood instantly brightened.
Suddenly, he heard the name "Bai Chunhai" coming from a table by the window in front of him, which piqued his curiosity. He saw three figures seated there—two women and a man—engaged in a quiet discussion.
"Our master has arranged a match with Master Bai Chunhai. After the Grand Master Assembly, they will face off at Tianjian Peak."
"I've heard that Master Bai Chunhai's palm technique is incredible. They say he can strike a snowy tree without causing the snow to tremble, shattering the tree instead. I wonder if it's true."
"Maybe it's just his disciples bragging..."
Li Hao's eyes lit up, and he immediately got up and approached their table. "Pardon the interruption, but do you know Master Bai Chunhai?"
The trio fell silent, their faces betraying their surprise that someone had overheard their conversation.
"Are you his disciple?" they asked, looking up at Li Hao with displeasure. However, upon noticing his youthful appearance, they relaxed slightly.
If it came to a fight, this young man probably wouldn't be much of a threat to them.
"No, I just want to meet him," Li Hao replied, shaking his head.
The three exchanged glances, their wariness fading.
"Are you here to seek him as your master?" asked one of them, a young woman dressed in a plain white skirt, her features gentle and her voice soft.
Li Hao looked at her in surprise, then realized that the Grand Master Assembly had attracted not only countless masters but also aspiring young martial artists seeking to become their disciples.
There were probably young masters and mistresses from declining or newly established aristocratic families who had traveled far and wide in the hopes of finding a master to learn from.
After all, with so many masters gathered in one place, the odds of encountering at least one or two suitable teachers were high.
Li Hao smiled but didn't explain. "Do you know where he is?"
"And what if I do? Why should I tell you?" The other young woman, dressed in an orange-yellow skirt, glared at Li Hao. Her features were more delicate, but her attitude was less friendly. She was clearly annoyed that Li Hao had eavesdropped on their conversation.
The young man sitting between them didn't stop her, merely saying indifferently, "If you want to seek him as your master, wait outside the assembly grounds after the Grand Master Assembly concludes. You'll surely get to meet him then."
The woman in the white skirt glanced at Li Hao, seeing the others' unfriendly attitudes toward him, and remained silent.
Li Hao didn't take offense. Instead, he took out the remaining half bag of silver coins and said, "Please, I need your help to point me in the right direction."
"Who needs your money?" The girl in the orange-yellow skirt snorted, glancing at the dangling dagger by the spiral staircase. "If you're really sincere, go get that dagger for me, and I'll tell you."
The young man knew that his junior sister was deliberately setting a challenge for this boy.
He had tried to get the dagger himself earlier and failed.
"Ling'er," the woman in the white skirt gently chided her junior sister. "I'm sorry, but we can't casually reveal Master Bai Chunhai's whereabouts. If word got out, we could get into trouble..."
"It's that dagger you want, is it?" Li Hao asked, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
With his current strength, making money was easy. Slaying a few demons could earn him a small fortune, allowing him to live a carefree and wealthy life.
Seeing Li Hao turn and walk towards the stairs, the trio stared at each other in surprise. Zhou Ling'er snapped out of her daze and exclaimed, "Is he an idiot? Does he really think he can get it?"
"He probably didn't read the rules carefully and thought he just needed to jump three zhang high," the young man shook his head and chuckled coldly.
As they spoke, the three of them moved to the railing and looked down.
Li Hao arrived downstairs, where several people were waiting to try their luck.
Those who wished to participate had to order the 'Golden Jade Feast' as a token of their challenge.
This familiar routine brought a sense of nostalgia to Li Hao.
He spent ten taels of silver to purchase a token and, without waiting for the food to arrive, stepped into the challenge area.
The surrounding gazes immediately converged on him, and the commotion grew louder when they noticed his age. They assumed he was a young master from some noble family, showing off.
These young masters were easy targets for making money.
A middle-aged man, seemingly a manager of the restaurant, enthusiastically explained the rules to Li Hao, hyping up the atmosphere.
Before the crowd could stir up too much noise, Li Hao lightly leaped into the air. Amidst the gazes of the entire restaurant, he floated up like a gentle breeze and gently plucked the dagger hanging above the candle.
The rules prohibited participants from using their spiritual energy to directly grab the object. It was a test of pure martial arts skill.
Even if one had reached the Divine Travel Realm, if their martial arts technique was lacking, it would be difficult to prevent the candle's flame from flickering.
However, as Li Hao landed, the candle flame remained steady and motionless.
Li Hao smiled at the stunned manager and then turned to walk upstairs with the dagger in hand.
The brief silence in the restaurant was soon broken by a burst of noise as everyone expressed their astonishment. Countless eyes followed the young man's figure.
Li Hao walked upstairs and handed the dagger to Zhou Ling'er, who was still dazed at the railing. Smiling, he said, "Please lead the way."
Zhou Ling'er and the others snapped out of their stupor. They had clearly seen that the candle's flame hadn't flickered at all, and Li Hao's approach hadn't stirred up the slightest breeze.
"How... How did you do that?" Zhou Ling'er asked, her eyes wide as she held the dagger.
The young man beside her stared at Li Hao, his eyes wide as he sized him up. He himself was a genius on the Kun Phoenix List, yet he couldn't accomplish what this young man had just done.
Could this young man also be on the Kun Rankings?
Li Hao sensed the growing attention he was attracting and repeated, "Please lead the way."
The trio came back to their senses, and the young man looked deeply at Li Hao before speaking, "Please follow us. Master Bai Chunhai should be with our master, but I can't guarantee that you will be able to meet him."
"Okay."
Li Hao agreed.
The young man led the way, guiding the group out of the restaurant.
The restaurant manager watched for a moment, but ultimately resisted the urge to stop them. In recent days, it was best not to provoke the young masters of Great Yu City, as it could easily backfire.
Along the way, Zhou Ling'er kept glancing at Li Hao, her curiosity piqued. Although she had a fiery temper, she held deep respect for those stronger than herself. During the walk, she asked several questions.
"How did you do it?"
"What's your name?"
"Where are you from?"
Li Hao didn't answer; he felt like a bee was buzzing in his ear.
The girl in the plain white skirt also secretly observed Li Hao, her eyes filled with curiosity. Among her peers, she rarely encountered someone so formidable.
Not long after.
Led by the young man, they arrived at the Master's Discussion Platform in the city center, which was packed with people. The surrounding inns were already full.
At a restaurant with a stage, the young man found his master, a short and middle-aged man named Zhou Haitang.
The young man introduced Li Hao and whispered what had happened in the restaurant.
Zhou Haitang, who had been watching the play, looked up at Li Hao and smiled, "May I ask where you're from, young master?"
"Ji Hao," Li Hao replied.
Zhou Haitang pondered the name for a moment, recognizing it as one not listed on the Kunlun or Kunlun Rankings. He assumed Li Hao was a newly introduced heir to a famous family, as his age seemed to match that assumption.
"Your name is only one character different from that genius on the Qian Long Ranking," Zhou Haitang chuckled. "Are you looking to become Master Bai Chunhai's disciple? I also know a bit about martial arts. Are you interested?"
Zhou Ling'er and the others looked at him in surprise. They hadn't expected their master to take an interest in the young man and offer to take him in directly.
However, given Li Hao's demonstrated skill, his martial arts foundation was extremely solid. If he were to join, he might even surpass them in his training.
With this in mind, the three of them felt a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
"I'm not looking to become a disciple," Li Hao shook his head. "I want to buy a painting from him."
Chapter 138: Ren Qianqian Transcends Borders
"Oh?" Zhou Haitang was taken aback when he heard Li Hao's words.
As a Master of Heaven and Man, he had personally extended an invitation, yet it was rejected.
However, considering what his disciple had just said, this young man could approach the candle flame without disturbing it, indicating an extremely solid foundation in martial arts. His chances of transcending to the Heaven and Man Realm after reaching the Fifteen Miles Realm were far greater than those of the so-called genius cultivators.
Such talent must either be a prodigy or supported by a prestigious sect.
"Buy a painting? What kind of painting?" Zhou Haitang raised his eyebrows slightly.
Li Hao shook his head and said, "The painting is with Bai Chunhai. I would appreciate it if you could introduce me to him."
"You're looking for him, not to become his disciple, but just for a painting?"
"Mhm."
Zhou Haitang couldn't help but size up Li Hao, and the three disciples beside him also stared at Li Hao in surprise.
With a Master present, all it would take was a nod from Li Hao, and he could immediately become their disciple. Such an opportunity was invaluable.
"Then you'll have to wait. That old man hasn't arrived yet, but he should be on his way. He'll show up during the Master Assembly in three days, and you'll be able to meet him then." Zhou Haitang picked up the teacup beside him, took a slight sip, and said indifferently.
Offering tea was also a way of hinting that the guest should leave.
Since Li Hao had no intention of becoming his disciple, he wouldn't force it.
Good horses are common, but good horse trainers are not.
Having obtained information about Bai Chunhai, Li Hao had no intention of lingering. He asked for the address of the inn where the other party was staying and left the restaurant.
The three disciples chased after him, and Zhou Ling'er huffed, "My father rarely wants to take on disciples, yet you're so ungrateful. Do you already have a sect?"
"?" Li Hao looked at her in confusion.
"Ling'er," the young man quickly pulled Zhou Ling'er and said to Li Hao, "Sorry, she's a bit blunt. Don't take her words to heart."
Li Hao didn't bother to pay attention to them anymore. With the gift of the dagger and showing the way, their ties were now severed.
Without saying anything further, Li Hao turned and walked towards the Martial Temple, unsure if Ren Qianqian had finished her Soul Succession.
"His martial arts foundation is very deep. He must be from a prestigious sect," said the girl in the plain white skirt, looking at Li Hao's departing figure.
Hearing this, Zhou Ling'er blushed with shame and said, "Isn't my father considered a prestigious sect? What do you mean by that?"
The girl in the plain white skirt came back to her senses and paused slightly before hurriedly saying, "Of course, I didn't mean it that way..."
"Hmph!"
...
When Li Hao returned to the Martial Temple, he saw Ren Qianqian's figure under the eaves outside the temple, hugging her sword and looking around.
Li Hao waved at her.
The girl saw Li Hao and immediately ran over with a joyful smile.
"How was it?"
"There was a senior in the Four Establishments Realm who saw my swordsmanship and thought I was talented."
Ren Qianqian's face was filled with uncontrollable joy. The only Four Establishments Realm heroic soul in this Martial Temple had actually chosen her.
Although her father was a Master, it would still be quite challenging for her to succeed a soul in the Four Establishments Realm. This was the highest level of Soul Succession, second only to the royal family.
She had joined the Tan Palace Academy hoping to succeed a soul there, but that would come with certain restrictions and limitations.
On the other hand, the conditions for Soul Succession at the Martial Temple were the most relaxed.
Most of these heroic souls had only one condition—to step forward and protect the Great Yu Divine Dynasty when it faced peril!
However, the Great Yu Divine Dynasty had stood for over three millennia, and even if there were dangers, they occurred at the borders, which were guarded and resolved by the Divine General's Mansion. Thus, this condition was essentially meaningless.
Unless one chose to join the military and establish achievements at the borders.
"Four Establishments Realm, not bad." Li Hao smiled.
"Thanks to you teaching me the sword intent. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to catch that senior's eye."
Ren Qianqian looked at Li Hao, her eyes sparkling.
Li Hao smiled and said, "It's all due to your own understanding. I just pointed you in the right direction."
Ren Qianqian shook her head slightly, not agreeing with his assessment, but she didn't argue further. Instead, she quietly made a mental note.
"Where should we go now?"
"Let's wander around, eat, play, and wait for the Master Assembly to begin in three days."
Li Hao said, "We can also listen to the discussions at the assembly and observe the martial arts of these Masters. It will be beneficial for you when you enter the Heaven and Man Realm in the future."
"Okay!"
Ren Qianqian's face lit up with delight.
Li Hao then led her away from the Martial Temple, and the two strolled leisurely through the streets, taking in the sights and soaking in the local culture of Liangzhou City.
That evening, a lively event was held in the city—the Ranking Competition.
On the competition stage, cultivators from the Soul Succession Realm to the Fifteen Miles Realm could spar and be ranked according to their performance. Rewards were given by the City Lord's Mansion.
With Masters gathering from all over the world, attracting geniuses from various states, the event was even grander than when the Tan Palace Academy recruited disciples. The entire city was packed with people.
Countless geniuses met each other but had no outlet for their competitive spirits, so they could only discuss their skills hypothetically. The local City Lord's Mansion seized this opportunity to launch this activity as a prelude to the Master Assembly.
This ranking competition was limited to three realms, from Soul Succession Realm to Fifteen Miles Realm.
Those below the Soul Succession Realm didn't need to participate and could simply watch and enjoy the show.
Li Hao wasn't interested in such festivities. If he joined, those in the Fifteen Miles Realm wouldn't stand a chance against even one of his fingers. It would be like bullying children.
However, Ren Qianqian had just undergone Soul Succession, and her enthusiasm was high, so Li Hao didn't want to dampen her spirits. He accompanied her to the competition grounds, arriving at the stage for the Soul Succession Realm.
"Why is it you?"
Coincidentally, Li Hao ran into Zhou Ling'er, whom he had met earlier in the day.
Beside Zhou Ling'er was the girl in the plain white skirt, Xu Wan'er. Both of them were in the Soul Succession Realm, and upon hearing the news, they had rushed over after a quick dinner, eager to test their skills.
Their senior brother had gone to the Divine Travel Realm stage, intending to join the competition and spar with geniuses from other states.
"We just met." Li Hao replied.
"How do you know them, and you're also at the Soul Succession Realm?" Zhou Ling'er's eyebrows furrowed as she noticed Li Hao's indifferent attitude, and she spoke with a hint of mockery.
However, Xu Wan'er curiously sized up Li Hao. Hearing the term "Young Master" and recalling Li Hao's actions earlier, she realized that he must be a wealthy young master with a carefree and generous spirit, as he had casually given away an expensive dagger and was now seeking a Master to purchase a painting.
"Hmm?"
Ren Qianqian, sensing the unfriendliness in their tone, took a step forward and coldly asked, "Are you being rude to my Young Master?"
Zhou Ling'er was taken aback, realizing that Ren Qianqian was also at the Soul Succession Realm. She frowned and asked, "And who are you? Are you her maid?"
Ren Qianqian simply glared at her coldly without responding.
Zhou Ling'er, feeling irritated by her stare, soon realized that Li Hao's identity might be more complicated than she thought. Otherwise, why would he casually give away an expensive dagger and ask for directions to find Bai Chunhai? Moreover, he wasn't seeking the Master to become his disciple or learn from him but only to purchase a painting.
"Hmph!"
With Xu Wan'er holding her back, Zhou Ling'er managed to restrain her temper and let out a cold huff.
Just then, cheers and noises erupted from the stage as a closely matched bout came to an end, with one of the participants conceding defeat.
"Let's go, we should join too." Zhou Ling'er said to Xu Wan'er, then glared at Li Hao. "If you're so skilled, as demonstrated with the dagger earlier, why don't you come up and spar with me? If you win, I'll acknowledge your skill."
Li Hao glanced at her with boredom; this young lady had clearly never been disciplined properly and was used to getting her way.
"And do you have the qualifications to challenge my Young Master?" Ren Qianqian frowned and retorted.
Zhou Ling'er's anger rose, and she said, "If your Young Master is so amazing, why doesn't he go to the Fifteen Miles Realm stage instead of hanging around here? If he's so confident, let's see the truth with a match!"
"If you want to fight, I'll be your opponent." Ren Qianqian offered.
"You? You've just entered Soul Succession, don't tell me you're bullying me." Zhou Ling'er scoffed and jumped onto the stage.
Ren Qianqian turned to Li Hao and said, "Young Master, I'll go and teach her a lesson."
"Then be careful. She's at the fourth level of Soul Succession, and you've just entered this realm and might not be fully adjusted yet. Be cautious and try not to hurt her." Li Hao advised.
Next to them, Xu Wan'er's eyes widened in surprise at Li Hao's words, wondering if she had heard him correctly.
"I'll be careful," Ren Qianqian assured him. With that, she jumped onto the stage.
The previous winner had already left the stage to rest. As Ren Qianqian and Zhou Ling'er took their places, cheers erupted from the crowd.
"Aren't you worried?" Xu Wan'er asked, seeing Li Hao's calm expression.
"A little," Li Hao admitted with a smile. "I hope she won't be too rough and make your precious cry."
"..." Xu Wan'er was speechless.
The match on the stage began. Zhou Ling'er unleashed her soul manifestation, revealing that she had also reached the Soul Succession through the Four Establishments Realm. Her manifestation exuded a powerful aura.
Ren Qianqian also summoned her soul manifestation to counter her opponent's intimidation. She then drew her sword and charged forward, using her own sword instead of the Dragon Soaring Sword.
The Dragon Soaring Sword had been returned to Li Hao before she took the stage.
The sword light flickered, sending countless sword flowers spinning like raindrops toward her opponent.
Zhou Ling'er was startled but quickly countered with her dagger, creating a series of clanging sounds as the weapons clashed. However, in an instant, a sword glided past her dagger and rested at her throat.
The fight was over.
Below the stage, Xu Wan'er watched with her mouth agape. She couldn't believe that Ren Qianqian had won! Wasn't she also at the Soul Succession Realm?
Moreover, that sword technique was incredible! It was so complex and intricate.
On the stage, Zhou Ling'er stood frozen, staring at the sword blade at her throat. Her face was reflected on the pristine blade, and her eyes held a mixture of emotions.
Ren Qianqian glanced at her and sheathed her sword with a swift movement. She then turned to the audience and said, "Who's next?"
Clearly, she wanted to continue challenging others and invited more geniuses to face her.
The match with Zhou Ling'er had merely been a warm-up for her.
Despite the difference in their levels—Zhou Ling'er being at the fourth level and Ren Qianqian having just entered the Soul Succession Realm without time to consolidate her power—Ren Qianqian's sword technique far surpassed her opponent's.
Although the clash of dagger and sword appeared intense, Ren Qianqian had avoided direct force and used clever maneuvers to deflect her opponent's attacks before landing the winning strike.
Hearing Ren Qianqian's challenge, Zhou Ling'er snapped out of her daze. Her face flushed with shame, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she bit her lip and hurriedly left the stage.
"Ling'er!" Xu Wan'er, concerned about her friend, rushed after her, forgetting her own intention to participate.
On the stage, as Ren Qianqian issued her challenge, another opponent soon stepped up.
Before long, another intense battle unfolded.
Ren Qianqian consecutively defeated four opponents before finally losing to a woman at the eighth level of Soul Succession.
Seeing Ren Qianqian's slightly dejected expression as she stepped down from the stage, Li Hao smiled and said, "Once you've stabilized your cultivation and comprehended the true essence of your Thousand Feather Sword Technique, you would have won that match."
"It's too difficult to grasp the true essence..." Ren Qianqian sighed.
Li Hao couldn't help but feel a bit helpless. She had crossed eight levels and still lost, yet she was disappointed? These geniuses were hard to please.
"Young Master, if you were to use only the power of the first level of Soul Succession, how many moves would it take for you to win?" Ren Qianqian suddenly asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity and anticipation.
She knew that Li Hao was an exceptional genius with an astonishing cultivation speed. Catching up to his current level was impossible for her, but she wanted to chase after the shadow of his past self.
"Me?"
Chapter 139: Has Shen Jiang Fu Lost Him? (Two Chapters in One)
"One move."
Li Hao contemplated for a moment before answering earnestly.
Ren Qianqian's eyes sparkled, and she didn't doubt Li Hao's words. After all, his swordsmanship far surpassed her own, and she could barely hold her own against him.
"What about the tenth level of the Ji Hun Realm?" she asked further.
"One move," Li Hao replied.
"...What about someone who has just entered the Shen You Realm?"
"Still one move."
"..."
Noticing Ren Qianqian's stunned expression, Li Hao smiled and turned away. "Let's go. When you've had enough fun, we'll head back."
Snapping out of her daze, Ren Qianqian quickly caught up with Li Hao's pace. "Young Master, are you serious? Is this because of your swordsmanship?"
Li Hao tapped her on the head. "Don't compare yourself to me."
The Grand Pulse and Qi cultivation techniques he had cultivated to the peak of the Zhoutian Realm were top-notch, and this power was enough to support him in cross-realm battles.
Additionally, with the Ji Hun Heaven and Earth, which was difficult to replicate, even at the first level of the Ji Hun Realm, the number of times he had refined his soul avatar was comparable to that of someone at the fifth level. Coupled with the Yin-Yang Dual Pulse, he could defeat a warrior who had just stepped into the Shen You Realm in a single move.
If he were to use his swordsmanship on top of that, the calculation would become more complicated.
Ren Qianqian held her sword in one hand and rubbed her head with the other, looking a little aggrieved.
However, she knew that Li Hao was right. Comparing herself to him would only lead to a collapse of her Dao heart.
"Just walk your own path of the sword, and there's no need for comparisons," Li Hao said.
Ren Qianqian's heart stirred, and she gazed at the young man's back in front of her, silently echoing his words. Was he also like this, forging his own path?
As the two of them left, on the other side, at the Shen You Realm arena...
A group of figures gathered, and suddenly, one of the women paused.
"What is it, Yue Yao?" Lin Feifei asked in surprise.
"I think I just saw Master Li," replied Song Yueyao, coming to a halt.
"Isn't that the Ji Hun Realm arena over there?" Lin Feifei followed her gaze, puzzled.
Song Yueyao frowned slightly at the figures moving in the distance, then gently shook her head and withdrew her gaze. "I must have been mistaken. It's unlikely for someone of his cultivation level to be at the Ji Hun Realm arena."
Dismissing the thought, she said, "Let's go and witness the prowess of the Shen You Realm experts from various states."
"Okay," Lin Feifei agreed, her eyes shining with anticipation as they landed on the Shen You Realm arena.
It was only natural for cultivators to have a competitive spirit.
Time flew by.
Li Hao and Ren Qianqian found an inn to stay in within the city, spending their days leisurely, wandering around and enjoying the sights. Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
During these three days, Ren Qianqian had continued to challenge and spar at the Ji Hun Realm arena, achieving decent rankings but failing to break into the top ten.
After all, her cultivation level was too low. Having just stepped into the Ji Hun Realm, she hadn't had the time to properly cultivate her soul avatar, so she only had the title without the corresponding power.
Those who could compete for the top ten spots were mostly those who had perfected the Ji Hun Realm and were either geniuses from prestigious sects or lucky prodigies who had obtained opportunities from the old man beneath the cliff.
Li Hao didn't accompany her further and instead spent his time wandering the city in search of famous paintings and chess manuals.
His efforts paid off as he managed to locate two renowned paintings, although one of them turned out to be a skillful forgery and couldn't be collected. The other painting, however, was an authentic masterpiece by a master of the art, titled "A Thousand Sails on the River."
The wealthy owner of these paintings had no shortage of money, and his collection was purely out of personal interest. Li Hao's silver had no sway over him, so if he wanted to acquire the painting, he would have to offer something else in exchange.
Li Hao had considered secretly collecting the painting and leaving, but doing so would cause the painting to rot and disappear from the world soon after.
The owner's hospitality had dissuaded him from such thoughts. Fortunately, the owner's son was a martial arts enthusiast, and Li Hao easily impressed him by effortlessly subduing the martial arts instructors in his residence. Having won over the instructors and the son, Li Hao promised to find a renowned master to teach the son, on the condition that he would receive the painting in return.
And so, on the day the Grand Master Assembly began, Li Hao was accompanied not only by Ren Qianqian but also by the wealthy man's younger son, who was around the same age as Li Hao and went by the name Han Wu.
"That's the Grand Master Arena over there, but we don't have invitations, so we can't enter the inner field," Han Wu explained, seemingly well-versed in the rules of the Grand Master Assembly. His eyes sparkled with excitement and reverence as he gazed at the inner field, where the Grand Masters stood.
"It's fine, we can go in," Li Hao assured him as he started walking toward the inner field.
Although he didn't have an invitation, his cultivation level as a Grand Master of Heaven and Man allowed him entry.
At the entrance, they were stopped by a pair of young men who appeared to be twins from Tianji Tower. Their attitude was polite as they asked Li Hao to present his invitation, assuming he was either a young disciple of a Grand Master or a scion of a noble family seeking apprenticeship.
Li Hao didn't have an invitation, but he simply lifted his hand and gently tapped the nearby dragon-patterned drum.
This drum was wrapped in dragon-scaled demon skin, and it would take a Grand Master to resonate with it. It was also designed with intricate mechanisms that made it difficult for even a peak Fifteen-Mile cultivator to produce a sound through brute force, let alone Li Hao's effortless tap.
As the drum resonated with a deep 'hong' sound, the two twin youths were stunned for a moment before their eyes widened in astonishment as they stared at Li Hao.
Han Wu, who was following behind Li Hao, was equally shocked, his mouth agape.
He had witnessed Li Hao overpowering the martial arts instructors, but he had assumed Li Hao was at the Shen You Realm. Now, seeing Li Hao's casual display, he realized that Li Hao was a Grand Master of Heaven and Man—a dragon among men at his age!
"You... Could you be..." The twin youths recovered their wits, their pupils contracting in shock as they stared at Li Hao.
They hadn't seen the legendary figure of Qingzhou, but a Grand Master at such a young age was unheard of, except for that one youth!
"We should be able to go in now," Li Hao said.
The two youths snapped out of their daze, their hearts pounding with excitement. They quickly stepped aside to make way for Li Hao.
Ren Qianqian, already aware of Li Hao's cultivation level, merely smiled, while Han Wu needed a moment to process what had just happened before hurrying to catch up, his excitement rendering him speechless. He wanted to ask questions but was afraid of disturbing Li Hao.
This Grand Master's arena was not located in the city center but beside a river outside the protective moat.
The river was well-known in Daliangzhou and was named the Long River.
The Long River twisted and turned for over 7,000 li, cutting across half of Daliangzhou and connecting more than a dozen cities.
At this moment, the river waters raged, stirring up layers of muddy yellow waves.
Beside the Long River stood a majestic arena, and occasionally, when the river surged, it would even splash some waves onto the edge of the arena.
Such a majestic and dangerous place also inspired a grand and heroic spirit in those who visited.
In the inner field outside the Lecture Stage, figures moved about. Although only Grand Masters and their entourage were allowed to enter this inner field, the number of Grand Masters gathered from all over the world, along with the fact that each Grand Master could bring five guests, made the inner field very lively.
Some familiar Grand Masters greeted each other, introduced their disciples, or met the young masters and young ladies brought in by some wealthy families.
Li Hao scanned the area and noticed not only the martial arts culture but also the underlying currents of fame and wealth.
Ren Qianqian and Han Wu surveyed their surroundings, feeling a bit nervous and tense. After all, those present were powerful figures who had founded sects in various regions, and the Three Immortals, a level above them, were almost mythical, semi-legendary figures.
"Let's go find a place to sit down," Li Hao said, leading them to an empty table with refreshments.
He picked up a pastry and took a bite. Finding it mediocre, he didn't take another.
"Young Master, could you be the fifth on the Qianlong Ranking from Shen Jiang Fu..." Han Wu couldn't contain his excitement any longer and asked Li Hao in a low voice.
Li Hao shook his head slightly. "You're thinking too much."
But I'm not fooled... Han Wu smiled inwardly, though his face showed disappointment, as he had already made up his mind.
Although his father often scolded him, saying, "My silly son, why do you insist on practicing martial arts? Why can't you just inherit my vast wealth and be content?" Han Wu thought he wasn't silly at all; it was his father who was being foolish. In these turbulent times, plagued by demons and monsters, what good was wealth without strength? Power was supreme!
He wanted to transform his family, starting with his generation, from a wealthy merchant family into a martial arts dynasty.
Most of the ancestral families had gone through a similar transformation, and if he succeeded, the genealogy would be rewritten, starting with him.
"Young Master, why don't you accept me as your disciple?" Han Wu said, about to kneel and perform the disciple's kowtow.
However, before his knees could touch the ground, a force lifted him up. Li Hao found this boy rather amusing; he might be young, but he had a merchant's cunning.
"I don't take disciples," Li Hao said.
"I'm hardworking and willing to endure hardships. I'm also kind and charitable, and I'm ready to do anything..." Han Wu quickly added, eager to showcase his virtues.
Li Hao stopped him, "I don't have time to teach, and even if you become my disciple, it won't be of any use."
Teaching chess or painting was one thing, but teaching martial arts was boring and felt like a chore to him.
If it weren't for Ren Qianqian following him all the way from Qingzhou, he wouldn't have bothered to give her guidance.
"Young Master..."
Han Wu put on a sad face, as if he was about to squeeze out a few tears, "Actually, I lost my mother at a young age..."
Li Hao was speechless. Was this boy about to break into song?
"Hmm? How did you get in here?"
At that moment, a surprised voice interrupted them.
Li Hao recognized the voice and turned to see Zhou Haitang and his disciples approaching.
Zhou Ling'er's expression changed slightly when she met Ren Qianqian's gaze, and a hint of embarrassment flashed in her eyes. As the daughter of a Grand Master, she felt deeply ashamed to have been defeated by someone her age who had just entered the Ji Hun Realm.
She wanted to avoid Ren Qianqian's gaze, but it was difficult to do so without appearing rude. Feeling frustrated, she turned her annoyed gaze to Li Hao instead.
"Grand Master Zhou," Li Hao acknowledged with a slight bow, addressing Zhou Haitang politely, but he remained seated.
After all, they were both Grand Masters and thus considered peers in the martial arts world.
Only if they were from the same family would they observe the hierarchical etiquette of elder and junior.
Zhou Haitang's eyebrows furrowed slightly at Li Hao's gesture, thinking that Li Hao was still holding a grudge for his previous cold attitude. He didn't bother to pay attention to the younger generation and said, "The White Chunhai you're looking for is over there."
He pointed, and Li Hao followed his finger to see an elderly man in a gray shirt with a kind face, chatting with someone.
"Thank you," Li Hao nodded.
Zhou Haitang didn't stay any longer and turned to leave.
He had a good sense of judgment and knew that his daughter had accepted a dagger gift from someone. Now, with this introduction, they were even, and neither owed the other anything.
The martial arts world was not just about fighting; it was also about the intricacies of human relationships.
Therefore, in the martial arts world, the most feared thing was owing someone a favor.
Because sometimes, repaying that favor could cost your life or even endanger your entire family.
When Master Zhou left, Xu Wan'er looked at Li Hao and nodded slightly before following her master.
Zhou Ling'er glared at Li Hao, feeling like a pincushion, then followed her father with a huff.
But once they were out of earshot, she said angrily, "They must have sneaked in! They're so infuriating!"
Zhou Haitang frowned, "That young man has a calm demeanor and doesn't seem to be from an ordinary background. It's not surprising for him to have an invitation. From now on, stay away from him. According to Wan'er, you couldn't even defeat his maid. You're so embarrassing!"
"Father!"
"This time, when we go back, you will meditate and cultivate in seclusion. You are not allowed to leave the mountain until you reach the Shen You Realm!"
Zhou Haitang said sternly with a stern face.
Zhou Ling'er stomped her foot and glared at Xu Wan'er angrily.
In another part of the arena, after Zhou Haitang and his group left, Li Hao got up and walked towards the Grand Master Bai Chunhai.
The gray-robed elder, who had been conversing with someone, turned toward Li Hao. Seeing a remarkable young man, he asked, "And you are?"
Recognizing the elder, Li Hao smiled and said, "I heard you have a famous painting, and I would like to purchase it. May I ask what your conditions are?"
"Hmm?"
Bai Chunhai frowned. Aside from martial arts, his only other pastime was painting and collecting renowned artworks.
"Young man, if you want to pay your respects and become my disciple, just be direct about it. There's no need for all this fuss," a burly middle-aged man said. He was a peak Fifteen-Mile cultivator who had accompanied his master, Bai Chunhai, to the assembly to gain insight and hopefully break through to the Heaven and Man Realm.
The disciples of the other Grand Masters also smiled and sized up Li Hao and his companions, assuming they were heirs of noble families who had come to pay their respects and seek apprenticeship.
"You misunderstood. I'm not here to become a disciple. I'm truly interested in the painting," Li Hao clarified.
The burly middle-aged man's expression darkened, and he said indignantly, "Are you here to cause trouble?"
Bai Chunhai raised his hand to stop his disciple and addressed Li Hao, "Young man, I'm not selling that painting. Please leave."
Li Hao understood that such prized possessions of Grand Masters were rarely swayed by monetary offers unless it was an astronomical sum that could rival the wealth of nations.
Other than that, the only option was to offer an exchange.
"Grand Master Bai, how about you name your condition, and I'll see if I can meet it? It could be a secret technique, a treasure, or a weapon," Li Hao suggested again.
Bai Chunhai furrowed his brows and studied Li Hao for a moment. Suddenly, he felt that this young man might indeed be here solely for the painting and not to mock him.
He replied indifferently, "I lack nothing. There is nothing in this world that can tempt me. Please leave, and do not disturb me further."
Li Hao was taken aback and felt helpless. It seemed that the Grand Master had no intention of letting go of the painting.
Or perhaps he believed that Li Hao couldn't offer anything that would interest him.
"Grand Master Bai, I know it's difficult for you to part with it. Aside from paintings, do you have any other hobbies or objects of interest? I'm willing to exchange something of equal value," Li Hao proposed.
"Who are you, young man? My master has asked you to leave. Didn't you hear him?" The burly middle-aged man took a step forward, his face filled with annoyance.
Bai Chunhai waved his hand to stop his disciple and said to Li Hao, "Young man, please leave. I've made myself clear."
Li Hao observed him for a moment and then nodded. "Alright, I understand."
Without further persistence, he turned and walked away.
If the Grand Master refused to part with the painting, the only option left was to find an opportunity to steal it.
A gentleman does not take what belongs to others, unless... you force me to stop being a gentleman.
Upon returning to their previous seats, Li Hao had just settled down when a delighted voice rang out:
"Master Li?"
Li Hao turned and saw a group of people standing at a distance, looking in their direction.
When they recognized Li Hao's face, their eyes widened in surprise, and they hurried over.
Li Hao also recognized them as Song Yueyao and the group of disciples from the White Palace, as well as teachers from the Tan Palace Academy—Shen Yunqing, Zhao Zongyuan, and Su Yehua.
Zhou Zheng, who was leading them, exclaimed in surprise, "It really is you! I couldn't believe it when I heard it earlier."
Shen Yunqing's eyes sparkled with delight, and he laughed heartily.
"Master Li!"
Beside him, Zhou Zheng and Song Yueyao, along with the other White Palace disciples, eagerly greeted Li Hao.
Although Li Hao was younger than them, and had only taught two classes at the White Palace, they had benefited immensely from his genius, and they held him in high regard.
Song Yueyao's eyes shone, and she suddenly recalled the figure she had seen at the Ji Hun Arena earlier. It seemed that she hadn't misidentified him due to face blindness but had indeed seen Li Hao.
"I didn't expect to see you here as well," Li Hao said, a little surprised. He stood up to greet them with a smile.
When he had left the palace, these friends had come to see him off, but he had refrained from interacting with them to avoid any potential trouble for them. However, he had cherished their friendship in his heart.
"We couldn't miss such a grand event," Zhao Zongyuan smiled and replied.
"I thought you were at Tianmen Pass. How come you're here as well?" Su Yehua asked curiously, her eyes fixed on Li Hao.
The others also looked intrigued, surprised to encounter Li Hao at the assembly.
"There aren't any demons or monsters there at the moment, so I thought I'd come and take a look," Li Hao explained.
Shen Yunqing's smile faded a little as he lowered his voice and said, "If you really can't hold on any longer, just lower your head and apologize to your father. There's no shame in that."
Li Hao glanced at him and simply patted his shoulder, saying, "Let's not talk about that."
Shen Yunqing sighed inwardly but didn't press the matter further. They all hoped that Li Hao wouldn't come to harm at Tianmen Pass.
Upon hearing Li Hao's words, the others fell silent. Perhaps only this young man could so resolutely give up that status, which was second only to the royal family in prestige.
"If you need anything at Tianmen Pass, just let me know. I have some connections in Liangzhou, so while I may not be able to help with slaying demons or monsters, I can definitely ensure a steady supply of food and other necessities," Su Yehua offered to Li Hao.
"Sure, take a seat first," Li Hao invited them to sit down.
Han Wu stood nervously to the side, his heart racing as he learned that these newcomers were geniuses from the Tan Palace Academy. He had wanted to participate in the admission process for the Tan Palace, but his father had stopped him.
The distance between Liangzhou and Qingzhou was vast, and even riding at full speed would take five days one way, making it a ten-day round trip. His father had been concerned that he might encounter demons or monsters along the way and lose his life.
"Master Li, once we graduate, we'll come to Tianmen Pass to find you," Zhou Zheng said as he took a seat.
"Definitely," Song Yueyao nodded, her eyes fixed on Li Hao with a serious expression.
Shen Yunqing scoffed, "You two, stop it. Tianmen Pass is a dangerous place. Don't go there and cause trouble for Master Li. What he can endure may not be something you can handle."
Then, turning to Li Hao, he added, "I'm not saying this because I don't want to help or because I'm afraid of trouble. I just don't want them to hold you back."
"I understand," Li Hao laughed, then scanned the group and asked, "Are all the teachers from the White Palace here?"
"Teacher Li?!"
Several surprised voices rang out, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps as a group of young men rushed over. They were all disciples of the White Palace.
Su Yehua glanced at Li Hao and said, "I heard that you only taught two classes, but you helped them improve by leaps and bounds. These guys hold you in high regard."
She was a Fifteen-Mile cultivator who had graduated from the White Palace not long ago and stayed on as an instructor, teaching only the students of the Jia Palace. She had come to the assembly hoping to seize the opportunity to break into the Heaven and Man Realm.
"Teacher Li," the White Palace disciples greeted Li Hao respectfully, bowing slightly.
Although Li Hao had left the Shen Jiang Fu, it did not diminish their respect for him.
Li Hao smiled and asked Han Wu to bring over some chairs to accommodate their group.
As more and more White Palace disciples arrived, Li Hao's area became quite bustling. After all, there were fifty disciples in total, and aside from Shen Yunqing's group of twenty, thirty others had relied on their family connections to attend. Only two or three were absent.
Meeting in a foreign land, everyone was delighted, and although Li Hao had left Qingzhou not long ago, they felt as if they were reuniting after a long separation.
Their lively conversation drew the attention of some people in the distance.
At Bai Chunhai's table, several Grand Masters noticed the large group gathered around Li Hao and, upon listening closely, recognized Shen Yunqing and the others. They also learned of Li Hao's identity from their conversation.
"That kid is the genius from Qingzhou?!"
Upon hearing Li Hao's identity, the Grand Masters at the table were astonished, their eyes widening in shock.
The polite young man who had just inquired about the famous painting turned out to be the renowned millennial first cultivation genius, famous throughout the world!
At the age of fourteen, he had soared to fifth place on the Qianlong Ranking and achieved the realm of Grand Master, an unparalleled feat in ancient and modern times!
The burly middle-aged man standing behind Bai Chunhai paled, his body trembling slightly. He had just spoken rudely to that young man, but it turned out that he was a young Grand Master?!
No wonder the youth had completely ignored him; he simply hadn't considered him worth his attention.
"He's Li Hao?!"
"I couldn't detect his cultivation realm earlier, and now I understand why. He's a Heaven and Man Realm cultivator at only fourteen years old!"
"It's really him, and he looks so young. He's truly only fourteen!"
"He's here too? I wonder what feat he accomplished to open the Heavenly Gate!"
As the news spread, exclamations of surprise echoed throughout the venue, and countless gazes converged on the young man surrounded by the group from the Tan Palace.
In an instant, he became the center of attention.
Although there were many other renowned young talents present, none could match the fame and buzz surrounding this young man in recent months.
"What?!"
Zhou Haitang, who had been chatting with old friends, had sharp senses as a Grand Master. The commotion and exclamations of surprise caught his attention.
His expression changed dramatically as he looked towards the youth he had greeted earlier, his eyes filled with astonishment.
That young man was the legendary genius?!
Zhou Ling'er and Xu Wan'er also heard the whispers and couldn't help but look in the direction of the crowd's attention. It was impossible for them to remain ignorant of the situation.
"He's... that person?!" Zhou Ling'er exclaimed, her eyes filled with disbelief as she stared at the smiling youth.
Her heart raced, and she found it hard to believe.
Before this, she had only heard about the young man on the Qianlong Ranking, and she had admired him from afar. Now, she couldn't believe that she had just mocked him moments ago.
"No wonder he had such profound martial arts skills and easily took the dagger... " the young woman murmured to herself, realizing that this matter was insignificant to the youth.
"A young Grand Master..." Xu Wan'er's eyes sparkled, a hint of admiration in her gaze.
In another part of the arena, several Grand Masters approached Li Wushuang. Despite being only a Fifteen-Mile cultivator, her background was extraordinary, and these Grand Masters sought to curry favor with the Shen Jiang Fu.
However, they were interrupted by the commotion nearby, and their gazes shifted to the source of the noise. As they listened intently, their expressions froze.
"He's here too?!"
Li Wushuang stood up abruptly, her eyes widening in shock as she looked towards the distant table. The next moment, her soul avatar flew out from the top of her head, and she saw the young man with a gentle smile on his face—a smile she would never forget.
Whoosh! Li Wushuang immediately rushed over.
"Miss," the two maidservants from the army quickly followed.
"Li Hao!"
Li Hao, who was reuniting with the disciples of the Tan Palace, was surprised to hear someone call out his name directly. He turned his head to look.
The crowd parted, and Li Wushuang appeared, her expression slightly agitated, her cheeks flushed.
"You're here too," Li Hao said, a bit surprised, but given her cultivation realm, it was not unexpected.
"You..."
Li Wushuang had many things she wanted to say. She wanted to ask Li Hao why he was here, and she wanted to persuade him to return to the Shen Jiang Fu and not hold a grudge against his uncle. However, when she saw the Tan Palace disciples surrounding him and the attention he was receiving, her words caught in her throat.
She suddenly felt that even without the prestige of the Shen Jiang Fu, this young man was still the center of attention.
A fourteen-year-old Grand Master was enough to astonish the world.
It wasn't that he had lost the glory of the Shen Jiang Fu.
It was the Shen Jiang Fu that had lost him.
"Are you doing well?" Li Wushuang finally asked, her voice soft.
"I'm fine," Li Hao replied with a slight smile. He felt neither warmth nor cold towards this cousin who he had once taught a harsh lesson.
After all, he had only reprimanded her for her own good, and now, meeting again in a foreign land, she didn't hold a grudge or question him about it. Instead, she asked about his well-being. He responded with kindness.
Chapter 140: A Single Move to Subdue the World's Masters
Seeing Li Hao's calm smile, Li Wushuang felt a momentary daze.
Aside from that one concerned sentence, she suddenly felt a sense of strangeness between them, or perhaps, they had never truly been close.
After the initial greetings, they had nothing more to say.
Blood-wise, they were cousins...
But relationship-wise, they seemed less close than the other disciples of Tan Palace, who interacted with Li Hao more naturally.
After a brief silence, Li Wushuang recalled her father's words and the potential dangers in Liangzhou. She transmitted her voice, "Be careful of the restless demons outside Liangzhou. If there's any danger, you can send a distress signal. My father is currently in Liangzhou and can come to your aid at any time."
"Mhm, you too," Li Hao nodded, thinking of the military report.
Li Wushuang gave him a deep look. She vaguely felt that the young man before her, not even the illustrious and brilliant Divine General's Mansion, could restrain him.
"If there's a chance, I hope we can meet again in Qingzhou," she said softly.
Li Hao's expression remained calm, and he did not reply.
Li Wushuang sighed inwardly and bade Li Hao farewell before turning to return to her spot.
Even after Li Wushuang left, the gazes of others remained on Li Hao, whispering among themselves.
Not long after, several Masters came over to greet Li Hao and make acquaintances.
They had also heard about the incident in Qingzhou and knew that the young man had cut ties with the Divine General's Mansion. However, no one truly took it to heart.
After all, who wouldn't want to enter that mansion? They thought the young man was foolish to want to step out, attributing it to youthful impetuousness, believing he would come to his senses eventually.
Initiating a friendship now was like offering charcoal in snowy weather, and it would be considered a blessing to have helped a junior in the future.
Li Hao easily saw through these Masters' calculations but felt neither disappointed nor surprised. He simply responded with distant politeness, gradually discouraging others from approaching him.
Masters were detached from worldly affairs, but they still had children, disciples, and sects.
With these, there would be weaknesses.
With weaknesses, one would want to cover them up, leading to socializing and feigning smiles, stepping into the world of fame and profit.
When one climbed the ladder, it was inevitable to sometimes bow one's head.
The days of solitary combat were long gone. Even the free and unfettered Four Establishments cultivators had to lower their proud heads before the mighty Yu Divine Dynasty.
Otherwise, they would be driven out like stray dogs!
Not long after, when the sun passed the noon mark on the sundial, a figure flew across the river from the opposite bank of the Long River and landed on the discussion platform up front.
He wore a white robe that fluttered in the wind above the river, his head covered with a snowy-white hood. His hair and beard were also white, giving him a youthful appearance despite his aged features. He exuded an air of immortality.
"The Tianji Mountain Master," the gathered Masters immediately recognized him.
After landing, the Tianji Mountain Master lifted the white hood from his head, revealing his flowing snowy-white hair. His face was ruddy, and he smiled as he slowly scanned the audience and said, "I am deeply grateful to all the Masters who have come from far and wide, from all states, to attend this gathering."
"You're too kind," came the responses from the Masters below.
Li Hao scanned the crowd; there were at least two to three hundred Masters present.
Including their entourage, there were nearly two thousand people here.
But at this moment, with the arrival of the Tianji Mountain Master, the previously noisy environment fell quiet.
The Tianji Mountain Master finished the introductory greetings and began to talk about the rewards for this grand gathering. Aside from the benefit of Masters deepening their understanding of martial arts, there were also additional incentives provided by the Tianji Pavilion.
These included martial techniques, treasures, and spiritual herbs.
All of these were things that warriors coveted.
Furthermore, at the end of the discussion, the Master who was voted as the first among them would not only receive spiritual treasures and divine weapons but also the opportunity to enter the Tianji Pavilion's library and choose one supreme martial art.
This reward was extremely tempting.
After all, the Tianji Pavilion's library collected countless books, and its fame was no less than that of the Li family's Listening Rain Pavilion, perhaps even surpassing it.
The top-notch martial arts within were usable even for those at the Four Establishments realm.
However, the prerequisite was being able to grasp them fully.
After discussing the rewards, the Masters' discussion officially began.
The format was casual, and not every Master had to take the stage. It mainly depended on the Masters' willingness to participate.
However, most Masters who came here wanted to verify the flaws and direction of their martial arts with others, as this was a rare opportunity.
Soon, an elderly Master took the stage and, after a few introductory remarks, began to expound on his Master's path.
His path was the Yin-Yang Dao, which he had realized from the alternation of the sun and the moon and the concept of Yin-Yang, solid and void.
As this Master explained, the audience became increasingly familiar with his martial arts, but since he did not delve into his ultimate techniques and moves, it could not be considered exposing his entire foundation. It was more like he was promoting the founding principles of his sect.
Hearing this Master's explanation, Li Hao thought of the Yin-Yang Separation Sword.
He had grasped this sword technique through his understanding of the Sword Dao, naturally absorbing the core concept of Yin and Yang from this sword technique.
This concept was essentially the same as that of the Master before him.
The key to achieving the path of a grandmaster lies in the "Dao."
Once enlightenment is attained, the Dao follows one's heart and intentions, and every action, from eating to fighting, naturally aligns with this Dao.
The Yin-Yang Separation Sword is a technique, and when infused with the understanding of the Yin-Yang Dao, it becomes a sword intent.
However, a grandmaster's path is inherently the Dao itself, and thus every movement becomes a technique.
It is easier to practice techniques with the guidance of the Dao, but to incorporate techniques into the Dao is like rowing against the current—exceedingly difficult and nearly impossible.
Fortunately, with the assistance of the system, Li Hao had already grasped the concept of the Yin-Yang Dao when cultivating this sword technique.
Therefore, he could understand everything the grandmaster was saying and even discern that the grandmaster was withholding some core secrets—his ultimate techniques.
After all, these were secrets that one would be cautious even when passing down to disciples.
After the first grandmaster finished speaking eloquently about his Dao, he invited challenges from the audience with a brief moment of silence. Soon, another grandmaster took the stage and refuted his concept of the Yin-Yang Dao, claiming it to be incomplete.
This new grandmaster practiced the Ape Dao.
He named his path himself, inspired by his observation of apes since childhood, through which he gained insight into the natural order and martial arts, thus finding his Dao.
The first step for his disciples after joining his sect was also to observe apes.
The martial arts he created were all related to apes.
When grandmasters debated, they discussed not only their eloquence but also their actual combat skills.
Soon, the two grandmasters engaged in a spar, both displaying great restraint and only exchanging a few moves before ending the match in a draw.
The Ape Dao grandmaster wielded an iron rod, his moves agile and unpredictable, while the Yin-Yang Dao grandmaster combined feints and solid strikes, making his attacks elusive and challenging to decipher. Each had their unique strengths.
As they exchanged techniques, they also exchanged ideas and thoughts, gaining new insights from each other. By the end of their exchange, both had benefited greatly.
However, this debate between grandmasters consumed an entire hour.
Past grandmaster debate assemblies had varied durations, with the shortest lasting three days and the longest stretching to half a month. None of them ended in just a day or two.
Li Hao had expected the experience to be novel, but he now found it slightly boring.
He could understand the Dao that these grandmasters spoke of with just a listen, but they kept elaborating endlessly, afraid that others might not comprehend.
He wished he could slide a progress bar or click a speed-up button, but unfortunately, this was reality, and he did not possess the ability to manipulate time.
He could only sit there, bored and restless.
Finally, the next grandmaster took the stage.
"There was the Ethereal Transformation Dao, inspired by the observation of butterflies' metamorphosis."
Then there was the Five Elements Dao, which used the five viscera as a foundation to cultivate a sturdy and unyielding mountain-like body, emphasizing stability and longevity in both offense and defense.
And there was the Crimson Flame Dao, which focused on attacks using the element of fire, one of the five phases, to overcome all techniques.
By listening to these grandmasters, Li Hao could understand their concepts and the realms they had achieved. He had cultivated a wide variety of martial arts, many of which had been founded by these grandmasters, and they encompassed a broad spectrum of martial philosophies.
This was why he was able to cultivate a vast and open mind, embracing the Dao of all things.
Through these debates, Li Hao realized that the simpler a grandmaster's Dao was, the easier it was to fathom its depths and quickly advance to the grandmaster realm.
For example, the grandmaster of the Crimson Flame Dao narrowly defeated the grandmaster of the Five Phases Dao in their spar.
Earlier, the Ape Dao grandmaster had also sparred with the Yin-Yang Dao grandmaster, and while the Yin-Yang Dao seemed to have a broader scope in terms of the Dao's coverage, the grandmaster had not delved deeply enough into its essence.
"The Dao is simple at its core..."
Li Hao had a moment of enlightenment within his heart.
This was what he had come here seeking. He could master the Dao of all things in the world one by one, but it would consume a lot of time, and the effect on improving his strength would not be significant—in other words, it had low efficiency.
Therefore, he sought the core of all things, a process of distilling complexity into simplicity.
If he kept pursuing complex Dao realms, he would fall into the same trap as the Yin-Yang Dao grandmaster, spending time expanding the breadth of his Dao realm and ultimately hindering his cultivation realm, only to be surpassed by grandmasters with simpler and more focused Dao paths.
The principle of excelling in one particular skill applied everywhere.
If it didn't work, it meant that the skill hadn't been perfected yet.
But if one could condense a complex Dao realm into a single technique, that technique would undoubtedly be incredibly formidable, beyond imagination!
Li Hao listened quietly, seeking that spark of inspiration in their conversations.
That spark was the common denominator he sought in all things.
Unfortunately, that spark of insight eluded him.
"Amitabha."
"The grandmaster Dao I cultivate is the root of human nature, one of the three poisons—the Hateful Dao!"
A young monk in a kasaya took the stage. The figure his kasaya represented caused the whispering grandmasters below to quiet down slightly.
"The Hateful Dao?"
"Can one really enter the Dao through emotions?"
"As expected of the Buddha Lord's personal disciple, what an unusual way to enter the Dao!"
Hearing the young monk's words, many grandmasters were astonished, feeling as if they had suddenly understood a profound truth.
Most grandmasters entered the Dao by observing the heavens, the sun, the moon, the stars, and all creatures, but this young monk had entered the Dao through human nature, which was rather peculiar and rare.
The poisonous woman had sought the elixir with the covert support of Mount Wuliang.
In fact, it was very likely that Mount Wuliang had intentionally instigated or lured her!
Otherwise, even if she had such intentions, without knowing about this elixir, she would have had to resort to other means.
"All living beings with life have the original thoughts of greed, hatred, and delusion. Demons crave blood, which is greed. A violent and cruel temperament is hatred. Even flowers and grass are the same; growing towards the sun is greed, and taking root and extending into the soil is hatred..."
On the stage, the monk in the kasaya continued to explain slowly.
His voice was gentle and calm, like a ray of Buddhist light shining in the cold wind by the Long River, giving everyone a feeling of spring.
Li Hao listened quietly to the monk's words. He had not cultivated Buddhist techniques, but as he listened, he quickly grasped the underlying principles.
This gave him a new perspective for his path of all things.
Human nature can also lead to enlightenment.
But what did greed, hatred, and delusion have in common with birds, beasts, and flowers?
Li Hao fell into deep thought.
What was the commonality between them? Or was there truly something that connected all things?
If not, then what he was desperately seeking might be an illusory concept, and he would never be able to perfect his path to Grand Mastery, only achieving a mundane Grand Master realm before entering the Three Imperishables.
As Li Hao pondered, the young monk on the stage continued to speak.
Towards the end, he looked at the audience of Masters and his gaze suddenly landed on Li Hao. With a smile, he said, "I've heard that the Great Yu has produced a millennium genius who entered the Master realm at the age of fourteen, unparalleled in history. I wonder if I may ask him a question or two?"
Hearing his words, everyone snapped back to attention and turned to look at Li Hao.
Expectation and mockery filled their eyes as they had been eager to see if this legendary youth was truly as remarkable as the rumors claimed.
They had been curious before, but they dared not offend him because of his surname.
"He is one of the Buddha Lord's personal disciples and is also on the Qianlong List, ranked first!"
Slight changes appeared on Shen Yunqing's face as she reminded Li Hao.
Being from Qingzhou, she knew about the great battle that had taken place and was aware of the friction between Li Hao and Li Qianfeng. The monk on the stage was Li Qianfeng's senior, and thus, his junior's opponent.
By calling out Li Hao's name, the monk was most likely trying to salvage some face for his junior or to uphold the reputation of the Buddha Lord.
Although Shen Yunqing and the other Tan Palace disciples had not participated in the true dragon contest, they had heard about what happened during the banquet afterward.
Li Hao had nearly killed the Buddha Lord's personal disciple with just a single chopstick.
This piece of news was too sensational to be covered up.
If it had just been a rumor, it would have been quashed long ago. But since it was the truth, with all the guests at the banquet as witnesses, the incident had been a popular topic of discussion and had spread far and wide.
Li Wushuang's face also changed as she sat on the other side, anger flashing in her eyes as she glared at the monk on the stage.
She had just been admiring his path to enlightenment, but now, his words had directly shifted the focus to Li Hao.
She could tell that he was intentionally targeting Li Hao.
Li Hao's gaze met that of the monk on the stage, and although both of them were smiling, Li Hao could see the coldness in the monk's eyes.
Greed, hatred, and delusion—it seemed that the monk had fallen into the trap of hatred.
Li Hao felt like laughing. He hadn't gone looking for trouble, but trouble had come knocking on his door.
"If it's just a discussion, I'm not interested."
Li Hao replied calmly.
His words were not a sign of retreat but rather a provocation.
The rules of a discussion emphasized stopping at a certain point, but he had no interest in dragging things out with the monk. If it came to a fight, he would rather disable him.
"Could it be that Young Master Li didn't come here for a discussion?"
Qin Wuque narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled lightly.
He was a Buddhist dignitary in the Heaven-Man Treasure Appearance realm, just half a step away from achieving Grand Mastery and perfecting his Dao heart.
He had come to this gathering to seek enlightenment and perfect his Dao.
When he saw Li Hao at the entrance striking the drum, he had recognized him.
"Whether or not to discuss depends on my mood."
Li Hao also smiled and said, "I just feel that your Dao is too simplistic and not worthy of being called a Dao."
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.
Qin Wuque was a personal disciple of the Buddha Lord, and the Dao he had just expounded was by no means simple. Just the fact that he entered the Dao through hatred showed his spiritual insight. Yet, Li Hao dared to say that his Dao was simplistic?
Qin Wuque's smile remained unchanged as he said, "Since Young Master Li thinks that my Dao is simplistic, I'd like to ask about your Dao. I heard that you entered the Heaven-Man realm when you drew your sword against your father, Duke Xingwu. Could it be that Young Master Li's Dao is the killing Dao of fratricide and patricide?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire place fell silent.
Everyone had heard about this matter, but no one dared to bring it up in front of the people from the Divine General's Mansion, as it was a disgrace to the Li family.
Now that Qin Wuque had openly mentioned it, many people looked at the youth, some with mocking expressions and others with ridicule.
They might not dare to offend the Divine General's Mansion, but they weren't afraid of Mount Wuliang. These words could only be spoken by someone from Mount Wuliang, acting as their mouthpiece.
"Do you really want to discuss the Dao?" Li Hao asked softly.
Qin Wuque's smile deepened as he replied, "Please enlighten me, Young Master Li."
Li Hao didn't say a word. He lifted his hand, and a pebble rose from the ground into his palm.
The pebble spun rapidly, polishing itself into a snow-white chess piece.
"All things in heaven and earth can attain the Dao. If you can receive my move, it will prove that your path to Mastership still has some merit." Li Hao's voice was calm, but his words were clear to everyone present.
Amidst the crowd's astonishment, Li Hao raised his hand and, like a chess player, gently pressed down on the chess piece with his finger.
The chess piece flew out and landed on the discussion platform. This thumb-sized piece now had countless energies converging and condensing onto it, with gentle inner and robust outer forces wrapping around it and emitting divine, radiant light.
At the same time, a majestic projection appeared behind Li Hao, none other than the Heaven and Earth Law Image.
The hundred-zhang-tall Law Image loomed over the entire inner field, looking down like a deity and exuding an overwhelming aura!
The Law Image raised its hand, and its massive palm, like a fan, seemed to pinch the tiny chess piece.
But at this moment, the chess piece, glowing with extreme radiance, had countless energies gathering and converging on it. It resembled a miniature sun emitting auroras, and as the Law Image's finger pressed down, it rushed towards Qin Wuque's head!
It was like placing a chess piece on the board, a move without regret!
Qin Wuque's face changed drastically as he sensed a terrifying aura from the towering Law Image, as if facing the mighty rivers and mountains, the sun, moon, and stars!
That descending chess piece was not just a tiny stone but seemed like an invisible mountain!
Such a display left him shocked, and he found it hard to imagine.
"Immortal Golden Body!" Qin Wuque exclaimed, sensing the impending danger. He roared out a Buddhist chant, no longer maintaining his previous solemn composure.
The divine soul behind him was invoked, and his entire body shone with golden light. Wearing a kasaya and holding Buddhist beads, he looked like a compassionate figure saving all sentient beings. However, as he exerted his power, his expression turned ferocious.
His Hateful Dao was a killing move, with vicious and cruel attacks that contained boundless rage, resembling an angry Vajra!
"Open Heaven God Palm!"
The dazzling Immortal Golden Body divine soul burned with brilliant divine might, like flames enveloping his body. He raised both hands and slammed them towards the white chess piece above, which shone like a miniature sun.
But that chess piece, glowing with extreme radiance, was like a tiny sun emitting auroras, and as the Law Image's finger pressed down, it rushed towards Qin Wuque's head!
As the Heaven and Earth Law Image's finger pressed down, the entire discussion platform shook with a power that seemed to pierce through the nine netherworlds. The waves of the nearby Long River surged and were swept towards the discussion platform!
A loud rumbling sound echoed.
That dazzling godly palm was obliterated by the Law Image's finger, which was not a simple move but contained Li Hao's understanding of the Dao and his Object Refinement Realm power!
His Object Refinement power surpassed that of the royalty. Even though Qin Wuque was a personal disciple of the Buddha Lord, the Object Refinement Law he cultivated could not compare to that of the royalty.
"Great Buddha Golden Body!"
"Omnipresent Buddha!"
As his godly palm collapsed, Qin Wuque's eyes widened with rage, and he roared towards the sky.
The pores all over his body spewed out surging waves of energy, and his meridians surged with power. He even stimulated the Yang meridian he had cultivated to its extreme, channeling his Object Refinement power into a godly palm that struck towards the descending finger once more.
But the finger of the Heaven and Earth Law Image seemed unstoppable, containing the most supreme rules as it relentlessly pressed down.
The mountain-crumbling, ocean-splitting aura caused Qin Wuque's kasaya to flutter wildly. His eyes widened with rage, but he saw the palm containing his Dao heart and extreme hateful anger, the palm he had infused with his full power, crumble and shatter under that relentless finger!
The chess piece, glowing with brilliant light, was like a comet from the heavens, reflecting in his pupils.
It pressed straight down, all the way to his forehead!
The chess piece was originally an ordinary stone, and despite the intense confrontation, it did not shatter thanks to the powerful Object Refinement force enveloping it.
This force still had enough residual power to prevent the chess piece from breaking, indicating that Li Hao had not used his full strength!
At this moment, the overwhelming power continued to press down on Qin Wuque's shoulder, causing a crunching sound as his shoulder bones seemed to squeeze and shatter. His legs trembled as he knelt on the ground, his knees bursting with blood that splattered onto his face and kasaya.
Then, the force continued without stopping, pressing the chess piece down onto Qin Wuque's body, forcing him to lie face down on the discussion platform, his limbs splayed out as if paralyzed and stuck to the stone platform.
From the audience's perspective, it looked like he was being pressed down by a single finger of the Heaven and Earth Law Image, unable to move!
He resembled a struggling toad!
(End of Chapter)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone